Friday June 25, 2010

SILK GROUP PBT INCREASES 177%

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 June 2010 – Consistent improvement and contributions via its two divisions has enabled SILK Holdings Berhad (SILK Holdings) to register an improved profit before tax of RM11.2 million on the back of turnover of RM57.9 million for the quarter ended 30 April 2010.

This represents an 84% increase in revenue compared with RM31.5 million in the previous year’s corresponding quarter and a significant 177% increase in profit before tax compared withRM4.1 million previously.

Dato’ Mohd Azlan Hashim, Chairman of SILK Holdings said, “This improvement in performance is very encouraging and is attributable to the new initiatives put in over the last 12 months. Amongst others, the Group’s Oil and Gas Division took delivery of three new vessels over the last 15 months and these are now contributing both revenue and profitability. Together with the increasing traffic volume at SILK’s Highway Division, the Group’s results has improved significantly from the situation barely 12 months ago, before the completion of its Regularisationexercise.

“With improving contributions from both divisions, we look forward to build upon this foundation for continued growth into the coming quarters. Barring unforeseen circumstances we expect toclose the financial year on a positive note” added Dato’ Azlan.

Oil and Gas Division

The Oil and Gas Division recorded higher profit after tax of RM8.9 million during the quarter under review compared with RM1.97 million in the preceding year corresponding quarter. Thisrepresents a 354% jump in profitability.

“The Oil & Gas Division is continuing with its renewal and replacement programme for its offshore support vessels. This is to ensure that not only does its vessels remain current and meets the stringent specification demands of its customers, but is expected to positively impactthis division as it moves into the next financial year” Dato’ Azlan elaborated.

Highway Division

The Highway Division recorded a healthy increase in traffic volume with 119,357 vehicles per day for its quarter ended 30 April 2010. This represents an increase of 15% in the number of vehicles compared with 103,578 vehicles per day recorded in the previous year’s corresponding quarter. On a financial year to date basis, average traffic volume recorded is 113,398 vehicles per day for the nine months to 30 April 2010, an encouraging 16.25% increase over the 97,545vehicles per day recorded in the previous year’s corresponding period.

“The Group is also encouraged by the consistent and significant increase in traffic volume at its Highway Division. Traffic utilising the Highway will continue to grow in the near term with the continued maturity of the neighbourhood it is serving and as the connectivity with other highways continues to increase. This is expected to be seen with the coming into service of other new highways along its alignment such as Lebuhraya Kajang Seremban (LEKAS) and the South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE). Given the current capacity and utilisation of the SILK Highway, the Highway has ample capacity to handle the additional traffic that will be generated,” concluded Dato’ Azlan.

SILK Holdings Berhad (SILK Holdings) started as Silk Concessionaire Holdings Sdn Bhd on 14 October 1996. It is the concession holder for the 37-KM Kajang Traffic Dispersal Ring Road, which started operations on 15 July 2004. The company obtained listing status on 17 December 2003. The company assumed its present name on 31 October 2008. After its successful Regularisation Scheme, involving the acquisition of AQL Aman Sdn Bhd (“AQL”), the holding company of the 70% owned Jasa Merin Sdn Bhd (“JM”), an offshore marine support services company. SILK Holdings’ main streams of income at present are derived from its toll road business, the Sistem Lingkaran Lebuhraya Kajang, as well as the offshore marine support services of the oil and gas sector.